DeSales University

Choosing a College Degree at DeSales University

DeSales University appears in our ranking of the 30 Best Online Bachelor’s in Psychology Programs at Private Colleges. DeSales University offers students a variety of ways to personalize their degree programs. There are   options to:

• double-major
• add multiple minors
• choose from available concentrations

Some programs have multiple formats available. Other programs are designed to help students enter the workforce immediately. Others help students continue into graduate school after they’ve graduated. For example, the Master of Business Administration program offers 13 different concentrations and three dual degree program options. It also offers graduate certificates that students earn. Some of the concentrations offered in the MBA program include:

• accounting
• finance
• healthcare management
• information systems
• supply chain management

Students can also choose to pair an MBA with a Doctor of Nursing Practice or a Master of Science in Nursing. Around half of the classes offered at DeSales University have fewer than 20 students. The student/faculty ratio is 13:1. The freshman retention rate at the university is 81 percent. This is higher than the national average. Popular programs at the university include degrees in:

• business
• health professions
• psychology
• the visual arts
• homeland security

Students who are still in high school can consider the university’s dual enrollment option. Here,  the university allows high school students to take college-level courses with reduced tuition rates. The classes are flexible. Some are offered online. Students can benefit from earning college credits while still in high school. Those credits may transfer when the student graduates and actually enters college. DeSales University also offers options for adult students and those who want to take classes online. The university’s ACCESS program that has been around for 40 years. It has helped adults earn their degrees and pursue specialized training. Evening programs at the university include those in:

• financial planning
• marketing
• pharmaceutical marketing
• forensic accounting
• homeland security

For prospective students interested in online study, the university has 14 programs. Degrees include:

• a Bachelor of Science in Accounting & Forensic Accounting
• a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
• a Bachelor of Science in Psychology
• a Bachelor of Arts in Human Resource Management

Degree programs often have multiple concentrations. The criminal justice option is available as a rehabilitation track or an intelligence track.

About DeSales University

DeSales University is located in Pennsylvania. It’s a private university affiliated with the Catholic Church. The university is named after St. Francis de Sales. It has operated since 1964 when it was founded as the Allentown College of Saint Francis de Sales. The university enrolls around 2,500 students. It has  124 full-time teachers and 211 part-time instructors. The university’s official colors are red and blue. There are several varsity sports teams at the university, including:

• baseball
• basketball
• golf
• lacrosse
• cross-country teams

Students play in NCAA Division III  as part of the Middle Atlantic States Collegiate Athletic Conference. The university’s mascot is a bulldog named Frankie the Bulldog. The university hosts a popular Shakespeare festival each year in a theater that seats almost 500 guests.

DeSales University Accreditation Details

DeSales University is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Regional accreditation grades the university on the strength of its programs and general operations. Students may transfer credits to and from an institution with regional accreditation. There are also some degrees offered at DeSales University that are accredited by national agencies. Programmatic accreditations include:

• The Commission on the Accreditation of Allied Health Programs, which has accredited the physician assistant program
• The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, which has approved the nursing program
• The Association of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs has accredited the programs in business, as well as programs related to business.

DeSales University Application Requirements

Students are encouraged to apply to DeSales University early in their senior year of high school. There are scholarships that feature time-sensitive application deadlines. Students might qualify for these if they apply to the university before December 1. There is no application fee to apply to the university. Students will complete the official application while also sending official high school transcripts. Students should also have their standardized test scores sent to the university. Note that not all programs require the SAT and make standardized test submission an optional part of the application process. Prospective students will also have their teacher and high school guidance counselor complete recommendation forms. The university recommends that all prospective students visit the university before applying to learn more about the school.

Tuition and Financial Aid

Tuition at DeSales University is $37,200. Room and board are $13,000. Mandatory fees are $1,500. There is also a one-time orientation fee of $200 for transfer students and freshmen. Additional costs include an estimated $1,466 for books and $2,808 for personal expenses. The total amount that undergraduate students who live on campus will pay to attend DeSales University is $56,174. Commuting students may pay a different amount for their living expenses. They will also have the expense of transportation. For graduate students, the rate depends on the student’s chosen program. For example, the Master of Business Administration (MBA) program is $855 per credit. Some programs also feature discounts for some students. The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice offers a 20 percent tuition discount for people who are already working in criminal justice professions. Some courses also require extra fees that vary from $25 to $350 per course. The university encourages its students to apply as early as possible for financial aid. Some awards are offered to students on a first-come, first-served basis. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available on October 1 of each year. The university also has some deadlines throughout the year for grants and scholarships. Scholarships at DeSales University are awarded on the basis of academic merit. Students don’t need to prove financial need when they apply. Some of the available institutional scholarships include:

• merit scholarships
• tuition incentive programs
• the Catholic Schools Grant of $3,000

Students at DeSales University may also participate in a tuition incentive program that awards $5,000. They may also apply for the Leadership Scholarship. This is a full-tuition scholarship awarded to six students.

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